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Fashion · head to head

AVA CAD/CAM vs Materialise Magics

AVA CAD/CAM logo

AVA CAD/CAM

Fashion

Professional CAD/CAM system for apparel manufacturing

From
$180/month
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite
Materialise Magics logo

Materialise Magics

Manufacturing

Industrial build preparation and data repair for metal and polymer additive manufacturing

From
On request
Rated
-
Full reviewWebsite

The short version

  • Each has a real cost: AVA CAD/CAM built for Apple Macs, so a Windows-based studio is not the target platform; Materialise Magics new seats and modules have been subscription only since 15 May 2024, so the perpetual purchase route is closed and existing perpetual holders are on a shrinking island.
  • They diverge on capability: AVA CAD/CAM covers Pattern design, Materialise Magics covers Mesh repair.
  • Prices and features above were last checked on 31 August 2026.

Where they differ

Only the attributes on which AVA CAD/CAM and Materialise Magics actually diverge.

Attributes where AVA CAD/CAM and Materialise Magics differ
AttributeAVA CAD/CAMMaterialise Magics
Starting price$180/monthOn request
Pricing modelsubscriptionquote
PlatformsWindows, macOSWindows
CategoryFashionManufacturing
Founded1984Unknown

Identical on both: free tier (No), user rating (Not yet rated).

What each one covers

Drawn from each product's published feature list. An absence here means we hold no record of it - not that the product lacks it.

Only in AVA CAD/CAM

  • Pattern design
  • Grading
  • Marker creation
  • Nesting optimization
  • CAM integration
  • Production control
  • Manufacturing systems
  • CAM equipment

Only in Materialise Magics

  • Mesh repair
  • Part orientation and nesting
  • Support generation
  • Build Processors
  • Simulation module
  • Structures module
  • Reporting and traceability

What people use each for

The jobs each tool is most often brought in to do.

AVA CAD/CAM

  • Design and colour separation for printed textilesnot Materialise Magics
  • Repeat and surface pattern creationnot Materialise Magics
  • Colourway development for home furnishing and apparel printsnot Materialise Magics
  • Preparing artwork for digital and conventional textile printingnot Materialise Magics
  • Wallcovering and floor covering print designnot Materialise Magics

Materialise Magics

  • A service bureau running several brands of metal printer that wants one preparation environment instead of five vendor slicersnot AVA CAD/CAM
  • Repairing badly formed STL or scan-derived meshes that a machine slicer will not acceptnot AVA CAD/CAM
  • Automating support generation on metal parts where manual support editing is the bottleneck in the processnot AVA CAD/CAM
  • Simulating and compensating for build distortion before committing an expensive metal buildnot AVA CAD/CAM

Where each one falls short

Documented limitations, not opinions. Every one is a constraint you would hit in normal use.

AVA CAD/CAM

  • Built for Apple Macs, so a Windows-based studio is not the target platform
  • Scoped to decorative print for textiles, wallcoverings, flooring and ceramics rather than general CAD
  • Pricing is not published

Materialise Magics

  • New seats and modules have been subscription only since 15 May 2024, so the perpetual purchase route is closed and existing perpetual holders are on a shrinking island.
  • Build Processors are licensed separately per machine family, so adding a new printer brand adds a licence line as well as capital cost, and a mixed fleet multiplies the software bill.
  • The modules that deliver the biggest labour saving, notably e-Stage automated support generation, are paid extras, so the base seat alone leaves you doing manual support work.
  • Materialise publishes no prices anywhere, and quotes vary by region and reseller, so two similar bureaus can pay materially different amounts for the same configuration.
  • It is Windows only and remains a desktop application, which sits awkwardly with the cloud direction of Materialise CO-AM and means preparation capacity is tied to specific workstations and licence seats.

Pricing, plan by plan

AVA CAD/CAM

$180/month
  • Standard$180/month
    • Basic features
  • Professional$350/month
    • Advanced features
  • Enterprise$undefined/month
    • Full solution

Materialise Magics

On request
  • Magics Essentials$undefined/year
    • Mesh repair and editing
    • Part orientation and platform placement
    • Basic support generation
  • Magics with modules$undefined/year
    • Everything in Essentials
    • e-Stage automated supports, Simulation, Structures priced individually
    • Build Processors licensed per machine family

Which should you pick?

Choose AVA CAD/CAM if

  • You need pattern design.
  • You work on Windows, macOS.
  • You also want grading.
AVA CAD/CAM review

Choose Materialise Magics if

  • You need mesh repair.
  • You work on Windows.
  • You also want part orientation and nesting.
Materialise Magics review

Questions people ask

Is AVA CAD/CAM or Materialise Magics better?
Neither clearly leads. AVA CAD/CAM starts at $180/month and Materialise Magics at On request, and user ratings are close enough to be indistinguishable. Choose on capability and platform support.
Which is cheaper, AVA CAD/CAM or Materialise Magics?
AVA CAD/CAM starts at $180/month and Materialise Magics at On request.
Does AVA CAD/CAM or Materialise Magics run on more platforms?
AVA CAD/CAM runs on Windows, macOS. Materialise Magics runs on Windows.
What is AVA CAD/CAM best used for?
AVA CAD/CAM is most often used for design and colour separation for printed textiles, repeat and surface pattern creation, colourway development for home furnishing and apparel prints, preparing artwork for digital and conventional textile printing. Of those, design and colour separation for printed textiles and repeat and surface pattern creation are not what Materialise Magics is typically brought in for.
What can AVA CAD/CAM do that Materialise Magics cannot?
AVA CAD/CAM covers Pattern design, Grading, Marker creation, Nesting optimization. Materialise Magics covers Mesh repair, Part orientation and nesting, Support generation, Build Processors.

Answered from the vendors’ own pages

AVA CAD/CAM: What industries does AVA CAD/CAM serve?

AVA serves fashion and apparel, home furnishings, wallcoverings, flooring, ceramic tiles, furniture, and rugs and carpets industries with design and production solutions.

Source
Materialise Magics: Can I still buy a perpetual Magics licence?

No. Since 15 May 2024 Materialise sells new seats and new modules on subscription only. Existing perpetual licences continue to work but new capacity is subscription.

AVA CAD/CAM: What design features does AVA CAD/CAM provide?

AVA provides design/edit/repeat capabilities, color separations, colourway management, digital print solutions, 3D design and emboss capabilities, and photorealistic visualization tools for design presentation.

Source
Materialise Magics: Do I need a separate Build Processor for each printer?

You need one per machine family, licensed separately from the Magics seat. Budget for it before you buy the printer.

AVA CAD/CAM: How long has AVA CAD/CAM been in business?

AVA CAD/CAM has been providing specialist design and colour software to the decorative printing industry for more than 40 years.

Source
Materialise Magics: Is Magics the same as CO-AM?

No. Magics is desktop build preparation. CO-AM is the Materialise cloud platform for AM workflow and production management, which absorbed the former Link3D product.

AVA CAD/CAM: Does AVA support design workflows for printed and woven products?

Yes. AVA offers an integrated suite of software modules for both printed and woven design workflows, from initial design through color separation to production.

Source
Materialise Magics: Does Magics slice?

It prepares and supports the build and hands off through a Build Processor, which produces the machine-ready file. The machine-specific processing lives in the Build Processor.

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